Virat Kohli Test retirement news

Virat Kohli becomes the first cricketer in history to achieve a 900+ ICC rating across all formats, climbing the T20I rankings post-retirement with a match-winning World Cup final knock.

Virat Kohli was reportedly in line to regain India’s Test captaincy for the England series, but a sudden shift in BCCI’s stance led to his unexpected retirement from red-ball cricket.

India is set to face England in a five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, marking the beginning of a new era without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket. Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are leading contenders for captaincy. The probable XI includes Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sudharsan, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. Sudharsan may debut at No. 3, while Pant retains the gloves. India’s pace-heavy attack is built to counter England’s Bazball style, signaling a strategic shift as the team begins its 2025-27 World Test Championship journey.

Virat Kohli’s candid reaction to a paparazzi's emotional "cricket hi nahi dekhenge" comment after his Test retirement has gone viral, highlighting the deep impact of his exit from red-ball cricket.

Virat Kohli’s potential retirement from Test cricket has sparked a critical search for a long-term No. 4 replacement in India’s red-ball setup. With Kohli likely to skip the England Test series, selectors are evaluating promising talents. Dhruv Jurel, known for his composure under pressure, leads the pack. Sarfaraz Khan, a domestic stalwart, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, a technically gifted batter, are strong contenders. Devdutt Padikkal adds a left-handed option, while Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair bring valuable experience. Rajat Patidar’s form also makes him a viable choice. India’s Test middle order is entering a transitional phase post-Kohli.